Updated 25 October 2026
Quick answer: In Germany in 2026, the minimum wage is €2,343/month (about $2,623 a month full time); an average earner keeps 61% of their pay after income tax and social security; mortgage rates are about 4%; household electricity costs €0.362 per kWh; petrol is €2.18/L, up 19.5% since February. The table below puts 10 everyday money measures for Germany side by side and ranks each one against the other countries in our data, using official figures from national statistics offices, central banks, the OECD and Eurostat.
Most comparisons of Germany look at one number at a time. This page gathers the figures that matter for working, buying a home, paying bills and retiring in Germany, so you can see them together and see how Germany compares. Each section links to our full guide for that topic, which covers every country and lists the original sources, and each dataset can be downloaded free.
Germany at a Glance
| Measure | Germany | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | €2,343/month (≈ $2,623/month) | 5th highest of 38 |
| Tax on an average wage | 38.7% (keeps 61%) | 2nd highest of 38 |
| Pay rise forecast 2027 | 3.1% (inflation 3.3%) | 5th lowest of 29 |
| Mortgage rate | 4% (new home loans, August 2026) | 11th highest of 31 |
| Electricity (household) | €0.362/kWh (≈ $0.41) | 2nd highest of 33 |
| Petrol price | €2.18/L (+19.5% since Feb) | 6th highest of 29 |
| State pension age | 66 y 4 m | 11th highest of 39 |
| Pension (share of pay) | 53.3% of net pay | 17th lowest of 50 |
| Bank deposit protection | €100,000 per person, per bank | — |
| Inheritance tax (children) | top rate 30% | — |
Rank compares Germany with the other countries in each dataset; "highest" means the largest value. "—" means the measure isn't ranked.
Minimum Wage in Germany (2026)
The legal minimum wage in Germany is €2,343/month. For a month of full-time work that is about $2,623 at current exchange rates, 5th highest of 38 countries in our comparison. €13.90 an hour from January 2026.
Full table for every country, with sources: Minimum Wage by Country 2026: Hourly and Monthly Rates in US Dollars. Download the data (CSV).
Income Tax and Take-Home Pay in Germany
A single worker on the average wage in Germany (about $94,000 at purchasing-power parity) pays 38.7% of gross pay in income tax and employee social security, so they keep 61%. That is 2nd highest of 38 countries, against an OECD average of 25.1%.
Income tax and employee social security take 38.7% of pay at the average wage, 34.1% at two-thirds of it and 42.3% at 1.67 times it. Including employer contributions, the total tax wedge is 49.3% of labour costs.
Full table for every country, with sources: Income Tax by Country 2026: How Much of Your Salary You Keep in 38 Countries. Download the data (CSV).
Pay Rises in Germany: 2027 Forecast
Employers in Germany expect to raise salaries by 3.1% in 2027 (median of the major pay surveys), after 3.2% in 2026. With inflation at 3.3% (Sep), that is a real cut of about 0.2 points unless inflation falls.
Full table for every country, with sources: Salary Increase Forecasts 2027 by Country: Every Major Survey in One Table. Download the data (CSV).
Mortgage Rates in Germany (2026)
The typical mortgage rate in Germany is 4% (new home loans, August 2026), 11th highest of 31 countries; the euro area average is 3.6%.
Up 0.23 points since February 2026 (3.77%). Monthly payment per €100,000 over 25 years: €528.
Full table for every country, with sources: Mortgage Rates by Country 2026: Where Buying a Home Costs the Most. Download the data (CSV).
Electricity Prices in Germany
Households in Germany pay about €0.362 per kWh of electricity (about $0.41), 2nd most expensive of 33 countries; the EU average is €0.283. Change: −6.5% vs late 2025.
Household gas: €0.116 per kWh. Typical household using 2,500–5,000 kWh a year, all taxes included, January–June 2026.
Full table for every country, with sources: Electricity Prices by Country 2026: What Households Pay per kWh, and What the Iran War Means for Bills. Download the data (CSV).
Petrol Prices in Germany Since the Iran War
Petrol in Germany costs €2.18/L (week of 19 October 2026), up 19.5% from €1.82/L in the week before the Iran war began. It peaked at €2.36/L (14 Sep). At about $2.44 a litre it is 6th most expensive of 29 countries, and the rise is 6th smallest of 29 countries.
Full table for every country, with sources: Petrol Prices Since the Iran War: How Much They Have Risen in 35 Countries. Download the data (CSV).
Retirement Age in Germany
The state pension age in Germany is 66 y 4 m for people reaching it in 2026; the earliest you can claim is 63 (with 35 years, reduced). Future change: 67 by 2031. 66 y 4 m applies to people born in 1960; the age rises two months per birth year to 67 for those born in 1964 or later.
Full table for every country, with sources: Retirement Age by Country 2026: State Pension Ages in 39 Countries. Download the data (CSV).
How Much the State Pension Pays in Germany
A full-career average earner in Germany can expect a mandatory pension worth about 53.3% of their previous net pay, 17th least generous of 50 countries (OECD average 63.2%). Low earner (half the average wage): 58%. High earner (twice the average): 39%. Including common voluntary private pensions, an average earner would get 68%.
Full table for every country, with sources: State Pension Amounts by Country 2026: How Much Retirees Actually Get. Download the data (CSV).
How Much of Your Money Is Protected in Germany
Bank deposits in Germany are protected up to €100,000 per depositor, per bank (about $111,900), the limit set by EU law for every member state. Harmonised by EU law; local-currency equivalent outside the euro. Money in payment apps and e-money wallets is usually not covered.
Full table for every country, with sources: Deposit Insurance Limits by Country 2026: How Much of Your Money Is Protected. Download the data (CSV).
Inheritance Tax in Germany
Germany has inheritance tax. Children can receive €400,000 per child (€500,000 spouse) tax-free, and the top rate for children is 30%, 8th highest of 28 countries. Rates 7% to 30% for close family; generous reliefs for family homes and businesses.
Full table for every country, with sources: Inheritance Tax by Country 2026: Thresholds, Rates and Who Pays. Download the data (CSV).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Germany in 2026?
The minimum wage in Germany is €2,343/month, about $2,623 a month for full-time work. That is 5th highest of 38 countries. €13.90 an hour from January 2026.
How much tax do you pay in Germany?
On the average wage, income tax plus employee social security in Germany take 38.7% of gross pay, so a single worker keeps 61% (OECD average: 25.1%).
What is the average pay rise in Germany for 2027?
Pay surveys forecast an average salary increase of 3.1% in Germany for 2027, against inflation of 3.3%.
What are mortgage rates in Germany right now?
Mortgage rates in Germany are about 4% (new home loans, August 2026). Up 0.23 points since February 2026 (3.77%). Monthly payment per €100,000 over 25 years: €528.
How much does electricity cost in Germany?
Household electricity in Germany costs about €0.362 per kWh (about $0.41), 2nd most expensive of 33 countries.
How much has petrol gone up in Germany?
Petrol in Germany has risen 19.5% since February 2026, from €1.82/L to €2.18/L.
What is the retirement age in Germany?
The state pension age in Germany is 66 y 4 m in 2026, with the earliest claim at 63 (with 35 years, reduced). Legislated change: 67 by 2031.
How much is the state pension in Germany?
In Germany, mandatory pensions replace about 53.3% of an average earner's net pay after a full career, against an OECD average of 63.2%.
How much money is insured in a bank in Germany?
Deposits in Germany are insured up to €100,000 per person, per bank.
Is there inheritance tax in Germany?
Yes. Children can inherit €400,000 per child (€500,000 spouse) tax-free in Germany; above that the top rate for children is 30%.
Compare Germany With Other Countries
See every country side by side in Compare Countries 2026: Minimum Wage, Tax, Mortgage Rates, Energy and Pension Age in 35 Countries, or open a country page: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States.
Related Guides
- Minimum Wage by Country 2026: Hourly and Monthly Rates in US Dollars
- Income Tax by Country 2026: How Much of Your Salary You Keep in 38 Countries
- Salary Increase Forecasts 2027 by Country: Every Major Survey in One Table
- Mortgage Rates by Country 2026: Where Buying a Home Costs the Most
- Electricity Prices by Country 2026: What Households Pay per kWh, and What the Iran War Means for Bills
- Petrol Prices Since the Iran War: How Much They Have Risen in 35 Countries
- Retirement Age by Country 2026: State Pension Ages in 39 Countries
- State Pension Amounts by Country 2026: How Much Retirees Actually Get
- Deposit Insurance Limits by Country 2026: How Much of Your Money Is Protected
- Inheritance Tax by Country 2026: Thresholds, Rates and Who Pays
- How Much Emergency Fund Do You Need? (With Calculator)
Figures checked against the official sources listed in each linked guide in October 2026. Exchange-rate conversions are approximate. This page is for information and isn't financial or legal advice.
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